VOA Visits UVA

Here is Beth Mendelson (left), Henna Ayub (middle) and me (right)

This weekend, I visited the University of Virginia where a wonderful senior named Henna Ayub, head of UVA's Afghan Students Association, organized a discussion about drug trafficking in Afghanistan. Henna, whose family came to the United States from Kandahar, Afghanistan put the event together after she saw VOA's documentary "A Fateful Harvest" on YouTube. (check it out!) More than 30 people came out to discuss how VOA covers Afghanistan -- particularly the war on drugs. Beth Mendelson, chief of VOA's Afghan Service, talked about VOA's ability to gain access to health clinics and drug busts -- and capture it all on tape.

Henna, who wants to be a doctor, brought her family, including her wonderful mother, who cooked delicious Afghan food for the occasion.

Visiting schools and colleges is one of the best parts of working in public relations for VOA. When you meet energetic, resourceful, engaged students like Henna and her friends, you realize how many talented people live in this country.

If you'd like VOA to visit your school, please email me at jmower@voanews.com